Goodbye LA

The early morning air was cool, with a hint of autumn creeping into the Los Angeles breeze. Isabella stood at the edge of the driveway, her suitcase beside her, and stared out at the city skyline one last time. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft golden glow over the buildings and the palm trees that lined the street. For a moment, it almost looked beautiful. Almost.

But the beauty felt distant, unreachable, like a world she no longer belonged to. Los Angeles, the city she had once called home, now felt foreign to her. Every corner, every street, every memory was tainted by the betrayal that had shattered her heart. And now, as she stood on the cusp of leaving it all behind, there was a strange mixture of relief and sadness swirling inside her.

Isabella closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she tried to steady herself. This was it. The decision had been made, and there was no turning back. She was leaving Los Angeles, leaving the life she had built, leaving the heartache behind. New York awaited her, a fresh start, a new chapter. But saying goodbye wasn't as easy as she had imagined.

The door to Brianna's apartment opened behind her, and she heard the familiar sound of footsteps approaching. She turned to see her best friend standing there, her arms crossed, her expression a mix of sadness and concern.

"So, this is really happening, huh?" Brianna said, her voice soft but heavy with emotion.

Isabella nodded, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah. It's happening."

Brianna sighed, stepping closer and pulling Isabella into a tight hug. "I still can't believe you're leaving," she whispered, her voice muffled against Isabella's shoulder. "It doesn't feel real."

Isabella hugged her back, her throat tightening as she tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. "I know," she whispered. "I can't believe it either."

They stood there for a long moment, neither of them speaking, just holding on to each other. Isabella had always known this goodbye would be hard, but now, standing here in the reality of it, it felt even harder than she had imagined.

Finally, Brianna pulled back, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "New York better treat you well," she said with a small, watery smile. "Because if it doesn't, I'm coming over there to kick its ass."

Isabella couldn't help but laugh, a brief, soft sound that felt foreign in the midst of all the sadness. "I'll let you know if the city needs a wake-up call," she said, her voice teasing, but there was a tremor in her words.

Brianna smiled, but her expression quickly turned serious again. "You're sure this is what you want, Bella? I mean, I know you need to get away, but leaving everything behind… it's a big step."

Isabella hesitated for a moment, her gaze drifting back to the skyline. The truth was, she wasn't sure if this was what she wanted. She wasn't sure of anything anymore. But staying in Los Angeles felt impossible. It was like trying to breathe underwater, like every memory of Liam and Tanya was a weight dragging her down, suffocating her. She needed space, distance, a chance to find herself again without the constant reminders of what she had lost.

"I don't know if it's what I want," Isabella admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it's what I need right now. I need a fresh start. I need to get away from all of this."

Brianna nodded slowly, her eyes filled with understanding. "I get it," she said softly. "Just… promise me you won't disappear, okay? We've been through too much together for you to just vanish on me."

"I promise," Isabella said, her voice firm despite the uncertainty swirling inside her. "I'll call, I'll text… I'm not disappearing. I just need some time to figure things out."

Brianna gave her a small, sad smile. "Good. Because I don't know what I'd do without you."

Isabella swallowed the lump in her throat, her heart aching at the thought of leaving her best friend behind. Brianna had been her rock through all of this, the one constant in a sea of chaos and heartbreak. Saying goodbye to her felt like losing another piece of herself.

Before she could respond, another voice broke through the silence.

"You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?"

Isabella turned to see her younger brother, Ted, walking toward them. He had that same lopsided grin he always wore, the one that made him look like he was up to something mischievous, but his eyes were filled with worry.

"Ted," she breathed, her heart both swelling with love and breaking at the sight of him. He had always been her baby brother, the one she'd looked after, the one she'd protected. Now, here he was, and she was the one running away.

"Hey, big sis," he said, pulling her into a tight hug. "I figured I'd come see you off before you disappeared into the Big Apple."

Isabella buried her face in his shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of his cologne, the one that reminded her of home. "I wasn't going to leave without saying goodbye," she whispered, though the truth was, she had thought about it. Leaving quietly, slipping away without the pain of goodbyes. But that wasn't fair—to Ted, to Brianna, to herself.

Ted pulled back, his hands resting on her shoulders as he studied her face. "You sure about this, Bella? You don't have to go. You can stay here, figure things out. We'll get through this together."

Isabella's heart clenched at the concern in his voice. Ted had always been the protective one, even though he was younger. He had been her rock when their parents had passed away, and now, he was offering that same support again. But as much as she loved him, as much as she wanted to stay and lean on him, she knew this was something she had to do on her own.

"I love you, Ted," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "But I need to do this. I need to get away from here."

Ted's expression softened, and he nodded, though there was a sadness in his eyes that mirrored her own. "I get it. Just… promise me you'll be careful, okay? New York's a big place, and I don't want you getting lost in it."

Isabella smiled, though it was tinged with sadness. "I'll be careful. And I won't get lost."

Ted pulled her into another hug, tighter this time, as though he could somehow keep her from leaving if he just held on long enough. "I'm going to miss you, Bella."

"I'll miss you too," she whispered, her voice breaking as the reality of leaving him behind settled in. But this was what she had to do. As much as it hurt, she had to leave.

After a long moment, they pulled apart, and Ted gave her a reassuring smile. "You're going to be okay, you know that?"

"I hope so," she said softly, though the doubt lingered in her mind.

The rumble of an approaching car broke the silence, and Isabella turned to see the taxi pulling up to the curb. Her heart sank a little further as she realized the time had come. This was really happening. She was really leaving.

Brianna took a step forward, her voice soft but firm. "If you need anything—anything at all—you call me, okay? I don't care what time it is or how far away you are. I'm here for you."

"I know," Isabella said, her throat tightening again. "Thank you, Bri. For everything."

Brianna pulled her into one last hug, and Isabella clung to her, holding on to the last bit of comfort before she stepped into the unknown. When they finally let go, there were tears in Brianna's eyes, and Isabella had to fight to keep her own from falling.

"You've got this, Bella," Brianna whispered. "You're stronger than you think."

Isabella nodded, though she didn't quite believe it. But maybe, in time, she would.

She turned to Ted one last time, her heart aching at the sight of him standing there, watching her with that protective, worried expression. "Take care of yourself, okay?" she said softly. "And don't get into too much trouble while I'm gone."

Ted grinned, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'll try. But no promises."

Isabella smiled, a bittersweet feeling settling in her chest. This wasn't the life she had planned, but it was the one she had now. And somehow, she had to find a way to move forward.

With one last deep breath, she turned toward the taxi, her suitcase in hand. The driver opened the door for her, and as she slid into the backseat, she glanced back at Brianna and Ted standing together on the sidewalk. Her heart twisted painfully, but she gave them a small wave, trying to hold on to the memory of their faces as the cab pulled away from the curb.

As the city began to fade behind her, Isabella turned to look out the window, watching as the familiar streets and landmarks of Los Angeles blurred into the distance. This was it. The end of one chapter, and the beginning of another.

New York was waiting for her, and though the future felt uncertain, one thing was clear: she couldn't stay in the past any longer.

"Goodbye, LA," she said